Time instrument



Feb. 5, 1935. ,1. R. PUTNAM 1,989,881

TIME INSTRUMENT Filed May 22, 1953 2 SheetsSheet l J. R. PUTNAM TIME INSTRUMENT Feb. 5, 1935.

Filed May 22, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 5, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TIME INSTRUMENT a corporation Application May 22, 1933, Serial No. 672,195

Claims.

This invention relates to time instruments, and more particularly to clocks and watches in which a picture is associated with the dial thereof.

One object of this invention is to provide a 5 time instrument having a picture associated with the dial, at least part of the picture being caused to rotate by the clock mechanism.

The above and other objects will appear from the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification.

In the accompanying drawings, in which certain ways of carrying out the invention are shown for illustrative purposes:

Fig. 1 is a face view of a clock embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but with the parts forming the picture shown in different rotative positions;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a face view of a watch embodying a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but with parts shown in different rotative positions;

Fig. 6 is a face view of a modified form of body of a pictorial figure intended for use in place of the body shown in Figs. 1 and 2; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmental view similar to Fig. 2, but with the modified form of animated figure 30 of Fig. 6 substituted for that shown in Fig. 2.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings, the clock 10 is provided with a dial 11 having usual time-indicia thereon, and with seconds and hour sleeves 12 and 13 and a minute arbor 14.

Securely mounted on the seconds sleeve 12 is the body of a pictorial figure 15 simulating an animate being, the term body being intended to include either the body per se with or without a head and/or limbs.

Securely mounted on the sleeve 13 and arbor 14 are hourand minute-indicating members 16 and 1'7 formed to simulate limbs of the animate being.

The sleeves 12 and 13 and arbor 14 may be rotated by any suitable driving mechanism. In the drawings, 18 represents a synchronous electric motor which drives said sleeves and arbor through suitable gearing generally indicated by the numeral 19, in a well-known way.

As the body 15 is secured on the seconds sleeve 12, it rotates once per minute, which is fast enough to produce a sense of action in the eye of the beholder. And since the body 15 and limbs 16 and 17 all rotate at different speeds, 65 the animate being represented by the parts 15,

16 and 1'? assumes various different postures while indicating the time, two such different postures being illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, the watch 20 is provided with 5 a dial 21 having usual time indicia thereon and also having thereon the body of a pictorial figure 22 simulating an animate being.

Securely mounted on the hour sleeve (not shown) and minute arbor 23 are hourand minute-indicating members 24 and 25 formed to simulate limbs of the animate being.

Spaced below and non-concentric with the minute arbor 23 is a seconds arbor 26 on which is fixedly secured the disk 27 having thereon one or more pictures 28, in the present instance being small pictures of similar type to that represented by numerals 22, 24 and 25.

Although the body of the pictorial figure 22 does not itself rotate, the members 24 and 25 which simulate limbs of the animate being, assume various positions as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. At the same time, the disk 27 rotates once per minute, which is fast enough to produce an action effect. The hour sleeve (not shown) and minute and seconds arbors 23 and 26 are driven by any suitable known mechanism.

In the modified form of body of the pictorial figure 29 illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, the leg members 30 and 31 are pivoted at 32 and 33 respectively, being shown as pivoted on the rear of the body 29, although they may, if desired, be pivoted 0n the face side of the body. The leg-members 30 and 31 may be provided with means to limit the arc of their pivoted movement, as for example, the limit-pins 34 and 35 which limit the pivoted movement by striking against the edges 36 and 3'7 respectively, regardless of which direction the leg-members swing. It will be observed that in Fig 7, the animated figure is in such position that the leg-member 31 is about to fall through its limited arc of movement to the position indicated in dotted lines.

By this construction of body employing pivoted leg-members and mounted on the seconds sleeve 12 in place of the body 15, additional efiect of animation is produced, especially if the limit-pins 34 and 35 or equivalent are used, inasmuch as the leg-members 30 and 31 will successively and suddenly flop through their limit of pivotal movement as the body 29 rotates while in inverted position.

The invention may be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential character- 5 istics of the invention, and the present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

1. A time instrument" comprising: a dial having time indicia thereon; rotatable seconds, minute and hour members; a figure mounted on said rotatable seconds member and fixed thereto so as to rotate therewith and simulating the body of-an animate being; and a time indicator mountedon and rotatable with each of said rotatable minute and hour members and simulatinga partofsaid animate being. 1

2. A time instrument comprising: a dial having time indicia thereon; rotatableseconds, minute and hour members; a figure mounted Qnsaidrotatable seconds member and fixed thereto so as to rotate therewith and simulating the body of an animate being; and a time indicator mounted on and rotatable with each of said rotatable minute and hour mer'nber'sand simulating a limb of said animate being.

vA time instrument'comprising: a dial having 'time indicia thereon; rotatable time-indicator indicator carrying means and fixed thereto so as to rotate therewith and simulating the body of an animate being; and a number of limb-members pivotally connected to said figure and pivotally movable relatively to said figure due to rotation of said figure and simulating limbs thereof.

4. A time instrument comprising: a dial having time indicia thereon; rotatable time-indicator carrying means; ,afiguremounted onsaid timeindicator carrying'means and fixed'thereto so as V torotate therewith and simulating the body of an animate being; and a number of limb-members pivotally connected to said figure and pivotally movable relatively to said figure due to rotation oisaid-figure with means to limit the arc of pivotal movement, said members simulating limbs of said figure.

, -.A time instrument comprising: a dial having time indicia thereon; rotatable seconds, minute and-' hourmembers; a figure mounted on said rotatable secondsmember and fixed thereto so as to rotate'therewith and simulating the body of an'animate being; limb-members pivotally connected to said figureand simulating limbs thereof; and ,a time indicator mounted on and rotatable with each of said rotatable minute and hour members. v

I JAMES R. PUTNAM. 

